Afghan Interpreter Who Risked His Life For British Army Treated "Like A Criminal"

An Afghan man who worked as an interpreter for the British army in Afghanistan has told Forces News he has been treated like a “criminal” as he fights to try and claim asylum in the UK.

Hafizullah Husseinkhel suffered serious injuries during four years working for US and British forces.

Out on the frontline in Afghanistan, Hafiz was one of many Afghans risking their lives on a daily basis interpreting for British soldiers.

His lawyers are now seeking a judicial review to allow him to stay in the UK.

It comes as Defence Minister Mark Lancaster said an MoD scheme to relocate Afghan interpreters to the UK is “fit for purpose”.

Despite suffering injuries, Hafiz survived the conflict, but now says he’s living in turmoil as he waits to see if he will be granted Asylum in the UK.

“When you walk in a patrol, there’s a risk of explosions, or snipers - being shot”

“I put my life at risk to make their forces safe, and they’ve treated me like an animal, a criminal.

“I lost my family, I lost my country - I lost all my life to come here and make a better life, and this is how they treat me”.

While he waits, Hafiz volunteers in Derby helping to organise food and clothing for refugees.

For the last two years, he says he’s been in and out of three detention centres, held alongside criminals and handcuffed while his claim is considered by the Home Office.

Hafiz says the Home Office want to return him to Austria; the first European country he was fingerprinted when fled Afghanistan.

But Austria denied him asylum, so he travelled to the UK.

From our reporter, Sian Grzeszczyk: 

“Hafizullah is 26 years old and when I asked him what he would want to do with his life if he was granted Asylum he told me he couldn’t answer because his future is so unclear.

"Because the Home Office doesn’t routinely comment on individual cases it’s unclear just how much longer he will have to wait until a final decision is made.”

Following his treatment Hafiz had a message to the Government:

“The government should look after the people that helped them. We were honourable - we saved their forces”.

Now his legal team are bringing a judicial review to help him remain here, and he says he’s grateful he has the support of a number of the soldiers who he worked alongside.

He is, however, full of frustration:

“I regret what I did now I see this situation.

“They insult me and abuse me, the Home Office forgets that everything I’ve done is for this country”.